New Image Analysis Technique Improves COPD Diagnosis

(HealthDay News) – A new voxel-wise image analysis technique, parametric response map (PRM), can be used to diagnose chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) phenotype and provide information about the extent and location of disease and its progression.

Craig J. Galbán, PhD, of the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, and colleagues conducted a study involving 194 individuals with COPD from the COPDGene study to determine whether using the PRM technique on whole-lung computed tomography (CT) images taken during inspiration and expiration could be used to accurately detect COPD phenotype and disease progression.

Using this new image analysis technique, the researchers were able to identify the extent of functional small airways disease (fSAD) and emphysema. CT-based evidence indicated the fSAD preceded emphysema with increasing severity of COPD.